One of life’s simplest pleasures is being outdoors.  Whether you are at the beach with sand between your toes, listening to the waves or riding up a ski lift with the biting cold air hitting your face hearing the crash of branches in the distance — there is just something about being outdoors that brings out the solitude and peace of God’s beautiful landscape.

Since we live in Shreveport, Louisiana, we don’t have a beach or snow-covered mountains, but we do have lush landscapes and we love to spend time outdoors.  Many of our customers do, too.  So, it is with great pride that we show you our latest outdoor living area.  This beautiful exterior garden area was a collaboration between Penn Homes and Hoogland’s Landscape.  The owner wanted an outdoor living space that was inviting, relaxing and interesting.  We think she made the right choice in choosing Penn Homes and one of our subcontractors to create this living space.

View of the outdoor living space nestled between two zero lot line homes.

Reminiscent of the Italian-styled pergola, this structure defines the outdoor space while creating inviting ambiance and shade. Just what we need to relax and rest!

Irrigation drip system was added to all containers for ease in watering. An option that should be considered in any irrigation project.

Don't forget the hanging plants! We added the irrigation system to these plants on the front porch, too.

The possibilities are endless!  You can create a living space, a dining area, outdoor fireplace, a kitchen/den area —  use your imagination…blend it with your lifestyle and give us a call!  We’d love to design an area for you, built for your lifestyle.

Gardening with Native Plants is a joy that more people should pursue. There are many reasons why you should give native gardening a try:

1.  Native plants are acclimated to your climate and conditions so they are almost care free.

2.  Native plants do not require commercial fertilizer or pesticides.

3.  Native plants provide food for wildlife and attract birds, butterflies and other helpful insects.

4.  By using native plants, shrubs and trees you are doing something positive for the environment.

5.  Many of the blooms on our native plants rival their imported cousins in beauty.

As Henry David Thoreau wrote in his book, Wild Fruits:

“Famous fruits imported from the East or South and sold in our markets … do not concern me so much as many an unnoticed wild berry whose beauty annually lends a new charm to some wild walk or which I have found to be palatable to an outdoor taste. We cultivate imported shrubs in our front yards for the beauty of their berries, while at least equally beautiful berries grow unregarded by us in the surrounding fields.”